Way back in June when I was in Austin for BlogHer Food, I was invited to a private dinner at Springdale Farm hosted by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. Springdale Farm is a family operated urban farm located 3 miles from the State capital in Austin, TX. Our dinner was as fresh as they come, farm to table --- picked just a few hours before we sat down to eat. Glenn Foore, owner and farmer of Springdale Farm gave us a tour and discussed why he has committed to growing produce and creating a sustainable future for his family and community.
Celebrity Chef Danny Boome led the discussion on factory vs. family farming, genetically modified crops, animal welfare and the use of pesticides and fertilizers. We got to dine and discuss these hot topics with farmers, cattle ranchers and CommonGround volunteers.
Owner and farmer of Springdale Farm, Glenn Foore
That's asparagus! I know, right?
Chef Danny Boome
I happened to look up as I was going in for my first bite and saw someone on the farm staff pick fresh greens and it hit me. My salad was literally farm to table fresh.
Tomato Gazpacho - loved it!
Sweet Potato Salad - this was phenomenal. I could not get enough!
So bummed I can't remember what this was... (Could it be collard greens?)
Pork and beef tenderloin. I can't tell you how simple yet sophisticated the preparation and flavors were, you had to be there. So delicate and moist. Mmm!!!
Strawberry Spoon Cake - this was phenomenal too, it came out warm and perfect in every way. I cleaned up the dish with no shame whatsoever.
I wanted to add that Chris and I are like the majority of the US population. We enjoy fast food, make semi-homemade meals and eat out at restaurants.... Yes we care about our health and the future of our children - we do our part to learn more but shouldn't be faulted for our food choices. It is a complete lifestyle change and we aren't committed to making those changes right now so please respect our family on my blog. With that said, I really enjoyed talking with ranchers and farmers about food. If I had the time and money, I'm positive we would eat sustainable food everyday.
The closest urban farm and restaurant for us is Park Ave. Dining in Stanton. It is one of my absolute favorite restaurants. Do you know where your local urban farm is?
You can follow the conversation about how food is grown and raised at fooddialogues.comLabels: Austin, BlogHer Food, Chef Danny Boome, Food, Springdale Farm, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, Urban Farm